In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London

On Publication Day

March 1, 2012

by the gentle author

“An elegantly presented, generous and good-natured book, it offers an antidote to the sense of disconnection a big city such as London can engender. A city is its people and here they are celebrated in a way that will resonate beyond the East End.”

We have enjoyed the regular stories of life in the East End (with the occasional foray into Hackney) so much that the book is a must. Signed by the “Gentle Author” will make it that more special. I hope it will be a sell out and go into a second edition.

Many, many congratulations on this auspicious day, Gentle Author. In my eagerness to get my hands on this book, it seems I miss out on an inscription, but I’ll be raising a glass to you and East London from across the sea.

Congratulations on this beautiful book, enriched by the efforts of the many people who’ve contributed to its production, and which above all celebrates with such generosity of spirit the life and lives around you, and therefore life and lives everywhere.

Even though I can’t make it to the book launch tomorrow, I too will be raising a glass to you, Gentle Author. Your stories about ordinary people going about their day has inspired me, has made me laugh, and has made me take note that more often than not there is a common thread that interconnects us all.
Congratulatory wishes from Rome, Italy.

The book looks marvellous — the short film is wonderful too. I can’t make it to the launch now, sadly. I would have loved to have met you. I’ve ordered a book from you and would love it to be signed. It seems to be doing very very well on Amazon already. I hope it’s a huge success for you.

Many congratulations! Exactly a year ago I discovered your blog and ever since then sitting down with a mug of coffee at my laptop and reading your stories before starting the business of the day has become a wonderful daily ritual for me. I’ll be raising a glass to you from Amsterdam.

I cannot wait to get my copy!
Congratulations to you Gentle Author you must be feeling very proud and quite rightly so.
Sadly I will not be able to get to the launch but will be thinking of you all, have a wonderful well deserved evening.

Congratulations on your first book (as I am sure there will be more to come as the days go by and there are more stories). And thank you so very much for everything that you do. You are chronicling history of your unique bit of the world, and providing joy to all of us who read your blog.

CONGRATULATIONS! What a wonderful feeling it is when a book is published- real euphoria of book birth…
I am longing to hold a copy of your baby in my hands.
Thank you do for the pleasure your daily writings have given me since I discovered you via Silvana de Soisson’s Foody Bugle blog.
I endorse Natalie ‘s comment above – it is a great start to the day.
As a professional writer myself I am also amazed at the quality you maintain throughout this huge daily output. It is an inspiration ( although I have to ration myself to reading only 3 back blogs or I’d never get any writing done myself )
I am not forgetting the photos and illustrations which are always superb and so apt.
Dennis and I are looking forward to tomorrow very much

Congratulations, Gentle Author, for all your wonderful work, and to all the subjects of your book and to those involved in designing and producing it. I would give anything to be there tomorrow, but alas, I am cheering you from Ottawa, Canada.

How wonderful to watch the video and see all the characters I’ve read about moving and speaking!

As I officially have a crush on this blog it was axiomatic that I’d order a copy of the book. I look forward to it with keen anticipation. You and it deserve huge success, however you choose to define that.

The market is the colourful, vibrant, characterful street theatre of retail and the independent / family run businesses are the friendly, human scale face of commerce. Your wonderful book allows us to enter an unfamiliar world, follow the thread of everyday experiences, past and present, of a unique community of Spitalfields and surrounds. For me, reading it is like a holiday for the mind, balm to the soul and a kick-start to the heart. Thank you so much.

I went into Waterstones in Truro March 1st and there it was! so I decided it was bad luck not to buy a book on World Book Day….a late Valentine Day present for the Mrs!….the bad luck came later….a bigger than expected garage bill!
Good idea making the photographs monochrome in the book!

PP has put a finger on it in a previous comment: I, too, have a crush on this blog! I stumbled on an entry about Chris Dyson in November 2009 when looking for more information about Princelet Street. My parents, children, husband, and I spent a very warm week at #13 in June 2005, shortly after it was opened by the Landmark Trust. While we traveled all over London during the day, we also spent each morning and evening in Spitalfields, reveling in St. John, the Ten Bells, Taj Stores, A Gold, Verde, and the Beigel Bake, but mostly loving the fact that Princelet Street was all ours for a week. Finding Spitalfields Life has kept those memories alive and I look forward to returning to see the many people I have met through your wonderful stories, Gentle Author. Congratulations on your success and your very jolly-sounding book launch last week.

Dear Gentle Author, congratulations! I’m very happy that your wonderful stories have now become a book. Now there’s nothing else but to enjoy the reading… Thank you so much, I can’t wait till I get hold of a copy! And of course I’m beginning to wait for the next one already… I was so sorry I couldn’t join the launch evening, as much as I really wanted. Do hope to meet you one day, though, for a big hug and cheerful THANK YOU!!! All the best!

Copyright

Unauthorized use or duplication of these words and pictures without written permission is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Spitalfields Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Spitalfields Life is nourished by a weekly vegetable box from Leila's Shop in Calvert Avenue.